Ravens Have Submitted Market-Topping Offer To C Tyler Linderbaum
MARCH 1: As ESPN’s Dan Graziano notes, many observers believe Linderbaum will manage to surpass $20MM per year on his next contract. Whether or not the Ravens’ top offer is that valuable remains to be seen, and in any case it could be surpassed by outside bids soon provided Linderbaum reaches free agency.
FEBRUARY 24: Aside from lowering Lamar Jackson‘s cap charge for 2026, the Ravens’ No. 1 priority is retaining Tyler Linderbaum. The top pending free agent at the center position (and many others) is in line for a massive raise regardless of where it comes from. 
Baltimore made the expected move of declining Linderbaum’s fifth-year option last spring, setting up the need for a long-term pact to be worked out ahead of free agency. When speaking to reporters at the Combine on Tuesday, general manager Eric DeCosta made another unsurprising announcement by stating (via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic) the transition and franchise tags will not be in play in this case. Tags group all O-linemen together for valuation purposes, making them feasible for tackles but rare in the case of interior blockers.
That leaves a long-term commitment as the path forward with respect to Linderbaum, who is open to re-signing. DeCosta has been clear about a mutual desire existing for a new pact, and on Tuesday he made a notable but not unexpected revelation. The Ravens have submitted a “market-setting” offer to Linderbaum’s camp, DeCosta said (h/t Zrebiec). The top of the center market reached $18MM per year when Creed Humphrey signed his Chiefs extension in 2024.
The NFL’s salary cap saw another jump after that pact was signed, and a surge past $300MM is expected when the 2026 figure is finalized. That leaves Linderbaum as an obvious candidate to surpass Humphrey in terms of AAV. The Chiefs Pro Bowler secured over $50MM in new guarantees on his extension, with $35MM of that figure fully guaranteed at signing. It would stand to reason Baltimore’s latest offer surpasses each of those figures, but further details on the Linderbaum negotiations will be worth watching for in any event.
Daniel Faalele has operated as the Ravens’ starting right guard for each of the past two years, but he is a pending free agent. The team could also look to upgrade from left guard Andrew Vorhees as a starter, so losing Linderbaum on the open market would leave open the possibility of three replacements being sought out this spring. Baltimore will look to avoid such a scenario, but it remains to be seen if the ongoing efforts to work out a deal will be sufficient to reach an agreement.
Jets Prepared To Tag RB Breece Hall
MARCH 1: The Jets are continuing to negotiate with Hall’s camp, per Hughes. The team prefers a new contract to a tag.
FEBRUARY 24: Breece Hall does not have a new Jets deal in hand at this point. Nevertheless, a departure should not be expected in his case. 
When speaking to reporters at the Combine on Tuesday, general manager Darren Mougey reiterated his desire for a Hall agreement to be reached in time for free agency. Failing that, Mougey said (via Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano) a tag will be used to ensure no departure will take place.
The franchise tag for running backs is projected to cost $14.54MM in 2026, while the transition tag is set to carry a value of $11.73MM. The latter option has been mentioned as a strong possibility in Hall’s case, so Mougey’s comments come as little surprise. Coming off a career-high 1,065 rushing yards, Hall would have been one of the top RB options on the open market had the Jets opted to go in a different direction.
Instead, the 24-year-old will remain in the fold for at least one season. Hall was not the subject of extension talks when Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn arrived last year, and uncertainty has loomed over his future ever since. During his latest public comments on the matter, Hall indicated an ambivalence toward remaining in New York or landing a notable pact elsewhere.
“You know, I don’t know,” the former second-rounder said during an interview with the New York Post. “I’ve addressed this for the last six, seven months now. But now I’m just kind of like whatever happens, happens.”
Hall added a level confidence that he will ultimately “get everything that’s coming” to him from a compensation standpoint. That could take the form of a long-term deal, but there have been no indications an agreement is imminent on this front. The running back market includes nine deals averaging at least $10MM per year, but that figure outpaces what Javonte Williams landed on his new Cowboys contract.
Connor Hughes of SNY notes Hall would likely not be willing to accept a three-year, $24MM offer like the one Williams took. The Jets could nonetheless remain close to those terms during negotiations knowing the one-year tag is still a fallback option. With nearly $80MM in cap space, the team will easily be able to afford either tag figure if applying one becomes necessary.
Offseason Outlook: Chicago Bears
Last offseason, the Bears underwent a major overhaul on the sidelines and in various parts of the roster. Expectations increased considerably for Year 2 of the Caleb Williams era, and it is certainly fair to say they were met.
The 2025 Bears made a habit of winding up on the right side of games decided in the closing moments through a run to the divisional round of the playoffs. The connection between Williams and new head coach Ben Johnson developed over time, and a much-improved offensive line yielded needed upgrades. There is nevertheless work to be done this spring if Chicago is to become a consistent postseason contender.
Coaching/front office:
- Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle accepted Ravens' OC position
- Press Taylor promoted as OC replacement
- Assistant general manger Ian Cunningham hired as Falcons' GM
- Jeff King promoted as assistant GM replacement
- Running backs coach Eric Bieniemy hired as Chiefs' offensive coordinator
- Eric Studesville hired as RBs coach
- DBs coach Al Harris interviewed for Commanders, Packers, Titans' DC vacancies
Doyle was an important member of Johnson’s initial staff, taking on the OC gig as part of his ongoing career ascension. The former Saints and Broncos staffer did not call plays during his one-and-done stint in Chicago, though. That proved to be a critical factor as the 2026 hiring cycle played out.
Lions To Explore LT Addition
Taylor Decker will continue his career in 2026. In spite of that, the Lions will still be in the market for reinforcements at the left tackle spot this offseason. 
“We’re still going to find a guy,” head coach Dan Campbell said about a situation in which Decker returned, shortly before that was confirmed to be taking place (h/t Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk). “Because as much as I love Deck, he’s got some things that are going to need some management. That’s kind of where we’re at. One way or another, we’re going to need somebody that can play over there and that can help us if we need them in a crunch or we need them as a starter.”
Decker was able to play in 14 games this past season, the same figure as 2024. A first-team gig will await him once more during his 11th Lions campaign, but it would come as no surprise if Detroit sought out contingency plans in the short term. As things stand, former fourth-rounder pick Giovanni Manu would be among the top options to fill in on the blindside if needed.
A small number of left tackles in their prime – such as Rasheed Walker – are on track for free agency in March. The three-year Packers starter will land a deal worth far more than what the Lions will be budgeting for at the left tackle spot, though, so veteran stopgaps will need to be pursued instead. The likes of Cam Robinson, D.J. Humphries and Joseph Noteboom will hit the market shortly, and they would represent experienced depth for Detroit.
Campbell also noted, to no surprise, that shoring up the interior of the offensive line will be a priority as well this spring. Avoiding the struggles endured up front last season would go a long way in helping Detroit return to the playoffs in 2026. Two years remain on Decker’s contract, but the possibility of retirement will loom once again throughout next season.
The Lions are among the teams with notable work to be done to achieve cap compliance. Detroit is currently $12.16MM over the cap, so a high-priced left tackle addition will be hard to make. Bringing in a rookie will also be feasible, as the team owns eight selections in April’s draft.
Vonn Bell Joins Colorado’s Coaching Staff
Vonn Bell did not announce his retirement at any point, but the longtime NFL safety has lined up the first gig in his post-playing days. Bell has been announced as a member of Deion Sanders‘ staff at Colorado. 
Bell will work as the team’s safeties coach in 2026. That comes as no surprise, since he played that position for nine years in the NFL. The 31-year-old was on the market throughout this past season, lining up a workout with the Steelers in October. No deal was worked out, and he did not catch on with a team through the remainder of the campaign.
A second-round pick of the Saints in 2016, Bell immediately took on a starting role in New Orleans. He played out his rookie contract before landing a three-year Bengals pact during his first trip to free agency. The Ohio State product was a first-team staple during his first Cincinnati stint, which included a run to the Super Bowl in 2021.
When his Bengals contract expired, Bell landed another three-year commitment. Joining the Panthers on a $22.5MM deal, he was expected to operate as a key figure in Carolina. However, Bell wound up being released after only one year with the team. That set up a Bengals reunion worth the veteran minimum. Bell reprised his role as a Cincinnati starter at first, but by the end of the campaign he had been relegated to special teams duties.
After going one year without managing to line up an NFL opportunity, Bell will now turn his attention to coaching instead of going through the free agent process once more. In all, he totaled 151 regular and postseason appearances in the league and amassed roughly $36MM in career earnings.
Bills Restructure T Spencer Brown’s Deal
Spencer Brown will handle right tackle duties in Buffalo for a sixth straight season in 2026. He will do so at a reduced rate in terms of his cap charge. 
[RELATED: Previewing Bills’ Offseason]
When speaking to reporters at the NFL Combine, Bills general manager Brandon Beane revealed (via ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg) Brown’s contract has been restructured. The veteran was due to count $19.3MM against the cap in 2026. Now, Brown’s charge for next season will be $8.97MM.
In September 2024, team and player worked out an extension agreement in this case. Brown’s $72MM pact is still scheduled to run through 2028. Next season will be the final one in which guaranteed salaries are included, though, and a substantial jump in cap charges are set to take place for 2027 and ’28. Further adjustments may be pursued in the future as a result.
Brown has made between 13 and 17 appearances each year so far in his career, and continued durability will of course be welcomed by Buffalo. The 28-year-old drew poor PFF reviews during his first two seasons, but he has been a strong performer in that regard since 2023. Remaining a key presence up front will be key for the Bills as the team faces the possibility of losing two O-line starters from this past season.
Brown, left tackle Dion Dawkins and right guard O’Cyrus Torrence are each under contract for 2026. Center Connor McGovern and left guard David Edwards are both pending free agents, however. Losing one or both would obviously create the need for additions along the interior in Buffalo’s case. Thanks to this Brown restructure, the Bills are closer to achieving cap compliance, as they are currently $6.28MM over the 2026 ceiling.
Klint Kubiak: Raiders Pursuing RB Additions
The Raiders’ offense will look much different in 2026 compared to this past season, but running back Ashton Jeanty will of course still have a major role to play. The rest of the team’s backfield depth chart could see considerable turnover this offseason. 
[Offseason Outlook: Las Vegas Raiders]
During his rookie season, Jeanty played every game and logged 266 carries. A heavy workload would come as no surprise in Year 2 for the former sixth overall pick, but adding depth at the running back spot is a priority for Las Vegas. Head coach Klint Kubiak confirmed as much when speaking at the Combine.
“We definitely want to have a two-man show, guys that can share the load,” Kubiak said (via Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith). “It’s a long season. You don’t want to put all the carries and targets on one guy. So right now we’re identifying guys that are available in the draft, identifying free agents we might go after, looking at our own roster and seeing who can share that. It’s important that Jeanty has a wingman.”
Zamir White played out the final year of his rookie contract in 2025, appearing in only six games. Free agent addition Raheem Mostert played in 12 games but was similarly ineffective on offense. Both backs are set to reach the open market in March, and it would come as little surprise if a departure took place in each case. That could set the Raiders up for a veteran addition via free agency as well as a draft investment in March.
Vegas is currently second in the NFL with just over $89MM in cap space. That would make it viable to win a bidding war for someone like Kenneth Walker, the top running back on track to test the market (given the Jets’ willingness to tag Breece Hall). A big-ticket investment on the Raiders’ part with Jeanty already in place would be a perplexing use of resources, though. A modest deal for one of the older backs in free agency would likely be much more feasible. With 10 selections in April’s draft, Vegas will also have ample opportunity to add another RB on a rookie contract to pair with Jeanty.
A number of key decisions need to be made before the Raiders take the expected route of drafting Fernando Mendoza first overall. That includes an evaluation of Geno Smith and the team’s quarterback options for the spring. However, the running back position will also be one to watch in Vegas’ case.
Cowboys Place Non-Exclusive Franchise Tag On George Pickens
Time still remained for the Cowboys to place the franchise tag on wideout George Pickens. Nevertheless, Friday has proven to be the day for the tender’s application. 
Pickens has officially been tagged, per a team announcement. A number of reports from Friday morning pointed to today being the point at which the move would take place. Dallas has taken the expected route of the non-exclusive franchise tag in this case, ESPN’s Todd Archer reports.
“My relationship with GP doesn’t change,” head coach Brian Schottenheimer said about Pickens when speaking about the looming tag application. “Just like it didn’t change with CeeDee [Lamb] or Dak [Prescott] when those guys were going through certain things. It’s all part of the process. It’s the business side of it… This is going to play out the way it’s supposed to play out.”
The receiver tag is worth $27.298MM in 2026, the league announced Friday. Although Dallas is an estimated $56MM over the salary cap (per OverTheCap), the team has long been willing to apply the tag to keep Pickens off the market with free agency approaching. Pickens is free to speak with interested teams given the nature of the tag used in this case, but the chances of an outside suitor working out a deal and parting with two first-round picks to facilitate it are extremely low. Attention will instead turn to the matter of contract talks between the Cowboys and their productive 2025 trade acquisition.
As Archer notes, Pickens and his camp were informed of the tag decision yesterday. He adds that “general” conversations took place between the Cowboys and Pickens’ representatives at the ongoing NFL Combine. Progress with respect to detailed negotiations will be worth watching for as this situation unfolds. If no long-term agreement can be reached by July 15, Pickens will be required to play on the tag next season. He may sit out if a deal does not come together, according to Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS.
The Cowboys already have huge money tied up in Lamb, whom they signed to a four-year, $136MM extension in 2024. Lamb ranks third at his position in value, AAV and guarantees ($100MM). He has a better overall track record than Pickens, but with the cap continuing to rise, the latter might be in line for a similar contract. Executives across the league are expecting at least $30MM per year for Pickens, Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports reports. There is even a possibility the soon-to-be 25-year-old Pickens’ next pact will surpass Lamb’s.
The Cowboys acquired Pickens and a 2027 sixth-round pick from the Steelers for a 2026 third-rounder and a ’27 fifth-rounder last spring. At that point, Pickens had established himself as a good (far from elite) receiver who came with some off-field baggage. The former second-rounder from Georgia had issues with punctuality over his first three years in Pittsburgh. Toward the end of Pickens’ last year with the Steelers, Mike Tomlin said the wideout needed to “grow up.”
The change of scenery worked wonders for Pickens overall. One of the few hiccups came when Schottenheimer benched him (and Lamb) for the opening series in a Week 11 win over the Raiders. The two star receivers missed curfew the night before, but that quickly blew over. Pickens went on to finish a 17-game season with across-the-board career highs in catches (93), receiving yards (1,429) and touchdowns (nine). He easily would have been the most desirable pass catcher on the open market had he gotten there.
Depending on how talks with the Jerry Jones-led Cowboys go, Pickens could still change hands via trade. Jones and Pickens’ agent, David Mulugheta, did not see eye to eye in extension negotiations with superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons last year. After a contentious battle, Jones dealt Parsons to the Packers in a late-August blockbuster.
Jones and Mulugheta will aim for more harmonious talks in this case. If they reach an agreement, Pickens would follow former Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant in inking an extension after receiving the tag. The Cowboys tagged Bryant back in 2015, but they shook hands on a five-year, $70MM deal before the mid-July deadline.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.
Mutual Interest Between Bucs, Mike Evans; WR To Explore Free Agent Options
FEBRUARY 27: While the Bucs maintain that Evans has “earned the right” to hear what other teams have to offer, ESPN’s Jenna Laine reports that Evans’ representatives at the NFL Scouting Combine, Darren Jones and Deryk Gilmore, met with the team in Indianapolis. Per Laine, Tampa Bay “will aggressively pursue trying to re-sign” the veteran wide receiver for 2026.
FEBRUARY 23: Mike Evans will play in 2026, meaning his decorated NFL career is set to include a 13th season. It remains to be seen if a new Buccaneers pact will be worked out or if a first ever free agent departure is in store. 
To no surprise, SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora reports a mutual interest exists between Evans and Tampa Bay. The sides worked out a two-year, $41MM pact in 2024 just in time to prevent the franchise icon from testing the market. It appears that will not be the case this spring.
Evans’ agents have already conveyed his desire to seek out other options in free agency. La Canfora confirms the six-time Pro Bowler is assessing other teams based on the strength of their offenses and his potential fit. Playing on a Super Bowl contender is obviously a priority for Evans, who earned a ring in 2020 with Tampa Bay.
The Bucs have Chris Godwin under contract for two more years, and the team has made a pair of recent draft investments at the receiver spot (third-rounder Jalen McMillan in 2024, first-rounder Emeka Egbuka in 2025). Moving on without Evans would leave those three in place as the core of Tampa Bay’s passing attack, and there should be no shortage of other suitors lining up outside Evans offers. The Texas A&M product contemplated joining the Chiefs and Texans prior to signing his latest Buccaneers deal.
Injuries limited Evans to just eight games in 2025 and prevented him from registering a 12th consecutive 1,000-yard showing. He will be 33 by the start of next season, so a short-term offer from the Bucs or any other teams should be expected. As La Canfora notes, though, Evans is aiming to remain a full-time starting presence with Tampa Bay or a different suitor; he is still seen as an impact wideout by evaluators around the league. This situation will be worth watching closely as a result.
The likes of George Pickens and Alec Pierce are strong candidates to be retained via the franchise tag shortly. That could leave Evans as one of the top wideouts available on the market once free agency begins in mid-March. Another Tampa Bay re-up remains a possibility at this point, but it may very well take longer than last time for Evans’ future to be settled.
Panthers Grant DT A’Shawn Robinson Permission To Seek Trade; Team Open To Moving QB Andy Dalton
A’Shawn Robinson has been a full-time starter with the Panthers since arriving in free agency two years ago. The veteran defensive tackle’s Carolina tenure is likely nearing an end, however. 
Robinson has been granted permission to seek a trade, Joe Person of The Athletic reports (subscription required). In cases such as this, teams often attempt to gauge the trade market of a player they are likely to release in the absence of any offers. Person recently pointed to Robinson as a strong cut candidate, making today’s news unsurprising.
One year remains on Robinson’s contract, a three-year, $22.5MM pact he signed on the open market in 2024. The former Lion, Giant and Ram is currently scheduled to carry a cap hit of $12.56MM in 2026. However, a release in this case would yield $10.5MM in savings while only creating a dead money charge of $2.06MM. That could very well lead to a Robinson departure through a cost-shedding move soon, unless a trade partner can be found. Soon to turn 31, Robinson has totaled 145 tackles and eight sacks in 33 Panthers games.
Another Carolina veteran who could be on the move shortly is Andy Dalton. The longtime quarterback is drawing trade interest, and the final year of his contract contains a base salary of just $3.9MM. That figure could be attractive for any number of teams seeking out affordable depth under center, and Panthers general manager Dan Morgan has spoken about a willingness to find a new Bryce Young backup this offseason.
“There’s a potential that somebody may want him,” Morgan acknowledged during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show (video link). “Andy’s a really good player, and he’s a great guy, great culture fit for us. I haven’t talked to any teams about a trade, but I think if the possibility did come up then I would talk to Andy, give him that option and let him explore a trade. I do think we want to get a little younger and a little more athletic at that backup quarterback spot.”
Dalton is 38, so the list of replacement candidates which are younger is rather long. The former Pro Bowler has made a total of seven starts across his three Carolina seasons, but Young has shown enough to enter 2026 as the team’s clear-cut starer. Even though a long-term extension is not likely to be worked out this offseason, Young could be in line for a substantial raise relatively soon.
Finding a long-term backup option as early as this spring would make sense for Carolina as a result. Just like Robinson, that could lead to Dalton finding himself on the move in time for the start of the new league year.